Trunk scanner advice needed

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Hawk

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Hello, currently have a RS Pro 96 and I am trying to catch up after several years out of the hobby.
I am currently trying to use it for the Orlando FL area and Clermont region but its been too long and I cannot even recall the file loading process I used in the past. I do have the programing cable somewhere.
I was wondering if the Pro 96 still usefull if can obtain the correct frequencies and update the V folders or should I just move on to a newer scanner such as the Unidens or Whistlers.
Thanks
 

hiegtx

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Hello, currently have a RS Pro 96 and I am trying to catch up after several years out of the hobby.
I am currently trying to use it for the Orlando FL area and Clermont region but its been too long and I cannot even recall the file loading process I used in the past. I do have the programing cable somewhere.
I was wondering if the Pro 96 still usefull if can obtain the correct frequencies and update the V folders or should I just move on to a newer scanner such as the Unidens or Whistlers.
Thanks
You would be better off moving to a newer scanner. One of the systems in your county, Apopka, has some P25 Phase II talkgroups, as well as uses some 700MHz frequencies on it's site. Unfortunately, the Pro-96 cannot trunk track 700MHz frequencies. You can 'enable' that band in the extended settings via software, but it will not track the system with those frequencies. Also, while most of your area appears to be P25 Phase I, there are some Phase II TGIDs, which are also not receivable on the Pro-96.

While the Orange County system is P25 Phase I, both the primary site for the county is simulcast, as is the site dedicated to Orlando. In neighboring Lake County, the PSIC system has several simulcast sites, and uses mostly 700MHz frequencies.

Unfortunately, most of the law enforcement agencies in your area use encryption, which no scanner can receive. Simulcast is another problem in itself. With the exception of Uniden's SDS100 & SDS200, performance of other scanner models that can do Phase II, as well as handle 700MHz frequencies, is often poor, and unpredictable. Simulcast can be extremely location specific. You have multiple transmit towers all broadcasting the exact same radio traffic on the exact same frequencies. While the differential between the time that these signals reach a given location is slight, it's still enough to befuddle most of them. Some people will find that their scanner works in one spot in their house, but not in other parts of the same structure. In some cases, metal siding, or foil backed insulation in the walls, blocks the conflicting signals enough that the scanner may work, but if moved a few feet, it will not. Read more about Simulcast in the Wiki.
Simulcast digital distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

Other than the SDS series scanners, other options to combat simulcast include the Blue Tail Receiver and the Unication pager. I don't own either of those, but the Unication apparently works very well, based on comments I've seen. It's drawback is that, not being a true scanner, you can program multiple sites & systems, along with talkgroups, but it can only receive one site, on one system, at a time, with a limited number of talkgroups (I believe 64, but might be incorrect). The Blue Tail Receiver has more flexibility, and can deal with more than one system/site. Comments I've read on this unit are also mostly positive in how it handles simulcast. There are dedicated forums for each of these, so review comments there.

Your other option, if you simply want to monitor at a fixed location (your home), and can utilize a PC, is to get one of the SDR dongles & monitor the systems with downloadable software. I don't use an SDR at this time, so I would defer more specific comments to those that use this path.

I would also suggest that you request your thread be moved to the Florida forum. Someone in the area could better advise what does, or does not, work for them. To do that, do not create a new thread. Instead, click on the Report in the lower left corner of one of your posts, and request that a moderator move your thread to the state forum. Someone in the area would be more likely to see it there.
 

JD21960

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I still use mine around Chicago IL but it only gets P25 Phase 1 not 2 and as the others said, you can't trunk 700mhz with it. It's best day is over unless you only need P25 Phase 1 and analog. Here is the Wiki Page with links where you can use ARC96 to program it *they still have a 45 day trial I believe. Win96 is gone? from what I remember. I didn't like it anyway, ARC does a better job showing you the port in use etc.
 

Hawk

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You would be better off moving to a newer scanner. One of the systems in your county, Apopka, has some P25 Phase II talkgroups, as well as uses some 700MHz frequencies on it's site. Unfortunately, the Pro-96 cannot trunk track 700MHz frequencies. You can 'enable' that band in the extended settings via software, but it will not track the system with those frequencies. Also, while most of your area appears to be P25 Phase I, there are some Phase II TGIDs, which are also not receivable on the Pro-96.

While the Orange County system is P25 Phase I, both the primary site for the county is simulcast, as is the site dedicated to Orlando. In neighboring Lake County, the PSIC system has several simulcast sites, and uses mostly 700MHz frequencies.

Unfortunately, most of the law enforcement agencies in your area use encryption, which no scanner can receive. Simulcast is another problem in itself. With the exception of Uniden's SDS100 & SDS200, performance of other scanner models that can do Phase II, as well as handle 700MHz frequencies, is often poor, and unpredictable. Simulcast can be extremely location specific. You have multiple transmit towers all broadcasting the exact same radio traffic on the exact same frequencies. While the differential between the time that these signals reach a given location is slight, it's still enough to befuddle most of them. Some people will find that their scanner works in one spot in their house, but not in other parts of the same structure. In some cases, metal siding, or foil backed insulation in the walls, blocks the conflicting signals enough that the scanner may work, but if moved a few feet, it will not. Read more about Simulcast in the Wiki.
Simulcast digital distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

Other than the SDS series scanners, other options to combat simulcast include the Blue Tail Receiver and the Unication pager. I don't own either of those, but the Unication apparently works very well, based on comments I've seen. It's drawback is that, not being a true scanner, you can program multiple sites & systems, along with talkgroups, but it can only receive one site, on one system, at a time, with a limited number of talkgroups (I believe 64, but might be incorrect). The Blue Tail Receiver has more flexibility, and can deal with more than one system/site. Comments I've read on this unit are also mostly positive in how it handles simulcast. There are dedicated forums for each of these, so review comments there.

Your other option, if you simply want to monitor at a fixed location (your home), and can utilize a PC, is to get one of the SDR dongles & monitor the systems with downloadable software. I don't use an SDR at this time, so I would defer more specific comments to those that use this path.

I would also suggest that you request your thread be moved to the Florida forum. Someone in the area could better advise what does, or does not, work for them. To do that, do not create a new thread. Instead, click on the Report in the lower left corner of one of your posts, and request that a moderator move your thread to the state forum. Someone in the area would be more likely to see it there.

Thank you for the detailed answer, I will request the post to be moved.
As far as buying a new radio goes, I found a few options but not sure which one is better. I noticed some are advertised as being easier to program (by zip code) but not sure how effective this is versus manual programming using a software . I am also researching about the SDR, thanks!

From the radios below is there any that is preffered or would you suggest a different model?

Uniden BCD536HP
Uniden BCD436HP HomePatrol Series Digital
Uniden BCD996P2
Whistler TRX-1
Whistler TRX-2
 

Hawk

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I still use mine around Chicago IL but it only gets P25 Phase 1 not 2 and as the others said, you can't trunk 700mhz with it. It's best day is over unless you only need P25 Phase 1 and analog. Here is the Wiki Page with links where you can use ARC96 to program it *they still have a 45 day trial I believe. Win96 is gone? from what I remember. I didn't like it anyway, ARC does a better job showing you the port in use etc.
Thank you, yes I did not like Win96 much either.
It looks like I will have to retire the Pro96 :( but still checking my options per Steve's feedback.
If not to hard I might try the SDR dongle.
 

hiegtx

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Thank you for the detailed answer, I will request the post to be moved.
As far as buying a new radio goes, I found a few options but not sure which one is better. I noticed some are advertised as being easier to program (by zip code) but not sure how effective this is versus manual programming using a software . I am also researching about the SDR, thanks!

From the radios below is there any that is preffered or would you suggest a different model?

Uniden BCD536HP
Uniden BCD436HP HomePatrol Series Digital
Uniden BCD996P2
Whistler TRX-1
Whistler TRX-2
The Uniden "Home Patrol" series scanners can be used by setting your location, a range, and selecting your service types of interest. The scanners in this group include the original Home Patrol 1 (HP-1), the later, P25 Phase II capable HP-2, BCD436HP, BCD536HP, as well as the SDS100 & SDS200. Uniden calls this "Location Based Scanning", and owns a patent on that. For these scanners, you can also connect a GPS to update your location as you drive, and the scanner will enable agencies as they come into range, and disable them when they pass out of range. See this page for a better explanation of location scanning.
How it Works: Location, Location, Location

For public safety agencies, your service types would be Law, Fire, EMS, & Multi. (Multi is used where the same frequency is used for more than one type, like PD & Fire using the same dispatch channel.) By default, when the scanner is shipped, only Dispatch types are enabled: Law Dispatch, Fire Dispatch, EMS Dispatch, and Multi Dispatch. But you should also enable the Tac & Talk types for those: Law Talk, Fire Tac, etc.

Using only location details, and service types. will at least 'get you started', and when traveling in an area unfamiliar to you using a GPS, it may be the best solution. But if you are mostly in your home region, then creating a Favorites list would be more effective. That way you can tailor your listening to exactly what you want to hear.

Of the scanners you list, I have the 436HP, 536HP, and the TRX-1. I also have the 325P2, the handheld sibling to the 996P2. The 436HP & 536HP, which are in the Home Patrol family, have the nationwide database on a memory card, and can do location based scanning (though I prefer Favorites lists tailored to my interests). The 996P2 does not have the database, so you would have to program it for what you want. The TRX-1 & TRX-2 do have the database, but do not have the type of location based scanning that you have with the Uniden scanners. For the TRX scanners, you can select service types, then do a 'library import' via their EZ-Scan software based on your zip code, but that's not as effective as Uniden's methods.

The unknown factor for you is Simulcast. For some people, who happen to be in the 'right spot' within a simulcast system's coverage, any of those scanners might work. But in other cases, you would need to step up to the SDS series scanners, a Unication pager, the Blue Tail receiver, or the SDR, in order to combat simulcast issues. You can find comments in certain areas where members state that their TRX-1 or 996P2 'works perfectly' in a simulcast area, but the issue, as already noted, is extremely affected by your exact location. You may find a 'sweet spot' where it works, but move a few feet away & lose legible reception.

Hopefully, someone more familiar with your immediate area can comment on whether simulcast is a major issue. I suspect it might be, but you might get lucky. That's why I always suggest that if you live in a simulcast area, and purchase a scanner other than the SDS series, be sure to order from a source that will not penalize you for returning a scanner that is not effective in your area.
 

Hawk

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Awesome, it seems more complicated than I imagined but still doable.
Thank you again Steve for the detailed feedback.
 
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